Canadian Senate Analysis

Canadian Senate Analysis The current government of Canada has remained in place since the British North America Act, 1867, which established the Parliament for Canada to be comprised of three parts: the Crown, the Senate, and the House of Commons. [1] Unique to Canada’s government, which is based on the Westminster Parliamentary System, is that the upper house of parliament, or the Senate, is comprised of unelected officials. For a large portion of Canada’s history there has been a debate concerning the Senate, largely concerning its unelected officials. While there has consistently been a discussion on if the Senate should be changed, Canada’s political parties cannot agree on if this change should be a reform of the Senate or its abolishment. In recent years this debate has been revitalized due to scandals concerning senators, Stephen Harper’s commitment to reform the Senate, and the Supreme Court ruling on what would need to be done to reform the Senate. While it is understan dable that some may want to push for the Senate to be abolished, this is much too drastic of a step for Canada to take and should not be taken just for simplicity’s sake. Democracies function and exist on mechanisms that help balance the power of the governing bodies to ensure that no one body or official has too much power and abolishing the Senate before attempting to reform it would give the House of Commons too much power. Prime Minister John MacDonald’s words are often used in explaining what the Senate does when he said that they are â€Å"the sober second thought.† [2] The reasoning for this is that by having politicians that are concerned for the long term stability and integrity of Canada and its laws and not concern themselves about being reelected and the perpetual campaign or about politics. Essentially they can give their full attention to being the check on the House of Commons. In addition, section 54 of the Canadian Constitution states that bill s which deal with any aspect of money, including appropriating revenue or creating or removing a tax, must originate from the House of Commons. [3] What this then causes, because most bills deal with issues of revenue or taxes in some manner, the vast majority of bills come from the House of Commons, which creates a unique dynamic between the two houses. [4] The dynamic that is crated is an uneven balance between the two in terms of the amount of work that is done. The House of Commons is the primary body that creates legislation and the Senate largely provides review and second thought on the issues addressed in legislation. While this may be the original thought, there are flaws to it. Many ideas on how to change the Senate have been proposed over the years, but to understand the current debate the most it is best to look at what each major political party current proposes. Currently the common discourse about the Senate is divided into three areas: main the status quo; keep the Senate, but reform it; or abolish the Senate in its entirety. Political parties of Canada have often differed on how the Senate should be approached and dealt with along the three lines. The New Democratic Party (NDP), especially in recent years, has been vocal proponents of abolishing the senate. The NDP has even gone as far as creating a website to promote the idea of abolishing the Senate, citing its unelected nature and high costs as reasons for it to be abolished. [5] The Conservative Party, on the other hand, has taken a different route and has attempted to reform it. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party attempted to create a system whereby senators would be elected by the provinces for nine years. [6] The legislation that proposed this came in 2011, but the constitutionality of this effort immediately came into question and went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court responded in 2014 when it ruled that any Senate reform must go be approved by at least seven provinces and half of the population. [7] The Liberal Party has not been as loud as the others, but did eject the senators that were part of the Liberal Caucus and released a statement declaring their support for reform of the Senate and the ejection of the senators from the caucus is the first step. [8] Each of the major political is in favor of some change to the Senate, which is a reflection of the opinion of Canadians.

The differences between the business plan and lean canvas Essay

The differences between the business plan and lean canvas - Essay Example The lean canvas application, on the other hand, is a simple problem and solution approach that enables the entrepreneur to develop or advance on a step-by-step basis. Although both offer analytical approaches that are vital to the prosperity and success of the business, both have varied criticisms. The business plan fails to take into account the business model management and performance measurement both of which are vital in allowing the continued business success. On the other hand, the lean canvas fails to offer an expected approach in a situation where the solution that is given to the initial problem becomes difficult or unrealistic to attain on the ground. When and why an entrepreneur should use the business plan or lean canvas The lean canvas is a helpful tool that helps the entrepreneur's design businesses. It is an ideal tool since it enables the entrepreneur to define quickly a business without necessarily having to outline a full business plan. The lean canvas utilizes a o ne-page business model that facilitates and helps the early stage startup that will enable the entrepreneur to identify quickly and overcome challenges. It identifies a target market, defines a unique business value proposition, tests the assumptions put forward by the entrepreneur and ultimately arrives at their first iteration. The lean canvas is vital in helping the entrepreneurs to gain clarity about their business ideas that will translate into an approach that is well defined to their markets and potential end users and investors.

Foreign Policy of North Korea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Foreign Policy of North Korea - Essay Example The intention of this paper is North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), as a country under the authoritarian rule of the military and the KWP, or the political party of Kim Jong-Il. Since the government and the military regulate every domestic institution in North Korea including the media and the schools, there is no known freedom of speech in the country. Moreover, according to the Amnesty International, North Koreans who are imprisoned or detained usually suffer from torture and other forms of cruelty and degrading treatment without due process of law. The prisoners are either beaten, forced to exercise, made to sit without moving for several hours, and publicly humiliated. Usually, because of these forms of cruelty as well as forced hard labor, lack of hygiene and inadequate food, prisoners usually fall ill and die some time during custody. As a response to the lack of respect for human rights in North Korea, the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, or NKHR, was established on May 4, 1996 in Seoul. The purpose is to defend the human rights and defend the lives of North Koreans. The founder and current chairperson, Reverend Benjamin H. Yoon, emphasizes that the goal of the NKHR is for the creation of a peaceful reunification of the North and the South and the formation of a democratic national community that is expected to result from such reunification. The NKHR also seeks to assist North Koreans who have just settled in South Korea in the education of their youth and the protection of their rights. Moreover, the organization seeks to collect and publicize facts and information regarding the status of human rights in North Korea, especially those in political prison camps (â€Å"Citizens’ Alliance,† 2011). Nevertheless, the NKHR, since it is based in Seoul, cannot do much to help North Koreans in North Korea. Nevertheless, the institution of the NKHR is a crucial step and a beacon of hope for North Koreans whose rights are still being violated in their own country. II. Relations with Asian Countries ` North Korea’s relations with South Korea have been â€Å"difficult and acrimonious† since the Korean War and have been a sort of â€Å"mixed† policy since North Korea seeks to develop strong economic ties with South Korea but the former does not stop denouncing the latter’s relations with the United States (â€Å"Democratic People’s,† U.S. Dept. of State, 2011). After the Korean War, both countries actually affirmed their desires for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula but until 1971, there have been no possible way for the two Korean governments to officially communicate with each other (â€Å"Democratic People’s,† U.S. Dept. of State, 2011). The differing ideologies of the two Koreas, where the north assumes a rather communist and conservative role but the south a rather a democratic one, have been responsible for the delay of goals aimed at reunification. Moreover, the intervention of the United States and other member countries to the Six-Party talks and North Korea’s continual violation of international laws against nuclear missiles have also helped put aside and indefinitely postpone reunification. However, South Korea remains as one of the DPRK’s leading partner in trade (â€Å"Korea, North,† CIA.gov, 2011). Aside from South Korea, among the countries with which North Korea has had firmly established ties with was China. China is North Korea’s largest source of food, fuel and arms, and is its biggest trading partner. As to food, China is the leading producer and importer of 45% of North Korea’s food and 80% of the latter’s consumer goods. When it comes to energy resources, China provides North Korea with around 90% of the latter’s fuel. With North Korea’s current volume of imports from China, the economic dependence of the form er on

Reflaction paper for public health class (pbhl2000) Essay

Reflaction paper for public health class (pbhl2000) - Essay Example ver, hospitalization and morbidity statistics are too alarming that it remains a question whether our government is serious about its concern on public health. Published in 2004 in The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Zaher’s article titled, â€Å"Smoking-Related Diseases: The Importance of COPD† presents the glaring reality regarding our present public health status, that is, the government’s efforts to reduce smoking and promote public health are ineffective. Zaher et al.’s article article is very informative as it presents data about smoking-related diseases, especially COPD. It is also very implicative as it analyzes different cases of smoking-related diseases, and suggests more concern on COPD cases. Moreover, it is predictive as it provides the smoking disability adjusted life years (DALYs) till year 2020. The article presents valuable information about smoking-related diseases. First, smoking is still rampant, given the number of smoking cases and smoking-related diseases. According to the article, there is continuous increase in the cases of smoking-related diseases from 1999 and the number is still expected to increase in the future. In particular, deaths related to smoking are expected to increase from 53,238 in 1999 to 76,390 in 2020 (Zaher et al. 1425). Cases of COPD are expected to rise even more than other reasons by the year 2020 (Zaher et al. 1425). Furthermore, the cost of public health on smoking-related diseases alone is yet to rise with the continuous increase in the number of cases. Among which, lung cancer cost will remain the highest as it has proven in the year 2000 survey. Zaher et al.’s article is also implicative as it carefully analyzes different cases of smoking-related diseases. According to the research, limited attention is given to COPD, considering the higher cases of lung cancer and chronic heart disease (CHD). Nevertheless, the authors emphasize that more attention should be given to COPD

Nurse-Patient Ratio Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nurse-Patient Ratio - Assignment Example The increase in the work load resulted into the increased probability of fatality among patients i.e. 14 per cent within 30 days of admission (Mark, 2009). Addition of one patient among nurses’ workload leads to a seven percent increase in the mortality rate emanating from common surgeries. Increased workloads also lead to nurse burn-out and job dissatisfaction that acts as precursors of voluntary turnover (Aiken et al, 2007; Kane et al, 2007). Increased nurse staffing levels reduce the number of urinary-tract infections, pneumonia as well other ailments required for capital ailments (Rafferty et al., 2007). Comprehensive studies undertaken by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) confirms that there is a relationship between nurse staffing and health care outcomes (Kane et al., 2007). An increase in the nurse staffing leads to a reduction in the prevalence and mortality rates caused by treatable diseases. Although there may be other strategies required for imp roving hospital nurse number, improved nurse staffing is the most effective in the achievement of proper outcomes for both nurses and patients. The solution to the problem requires the input of the legislative arms in enacting regulations that addresses the shortage. Strategies to Influence Votes At the local level, nurses should be encouraged to use the reward power when lobbying for support from the legislators. The candidates should only be assured of votes if they offer their support to the health issue (Abood, 2007). The hospitals should be required to establish nurse controlled staffing committees. This creates the strategies necessary for matching the patient population with the available staffing. The results from such committee are presented to the legislative members to provide them with the real problem for support. At the state level, nurses should be involved in the sponsoring of the annual state legislative days to arrest the attention of legislators and influential le aders. The legislative days will be characterized by fellowships and internships that offer information on the importance of maintaining suitable nursing ratios for effective health care delivery. These workshops will bring nurses together and raise awareness on the current health care issues. Once the nurses are made aware of the situation, they can identify the pros and cons of the necessary solutions to the problem. Awareness will also motivate individual nurses to attract the involvement of colleagues in the issue. This leads to the formation of majority members required in encouraging the legislators in enacting the required changes in nursing. Focus on media will also play an eminent role in educating the public and politicians on the issue. This will win the required support from the public and nongovernment organizations. Increasing My Power to Influence Votes Individual efforts are eminent in mobilizing votes. The prominent strategy is the development of communication skill s necessary for influencing other people to listen and gain insight on the problem as well as the proposed solutions. Another personal strategy will entail joining professional nursing organizations with political affiliations. This will offer a chance to interact and influence professional lobbyists capable of influencing the necessary amendments among the ruling elite. Personal involvement will allow sharing of detailed information on th

Critical State Soil Mechanics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical State Soil Mechanics - Assignment Example The soil attains a critical state when there is a constant shear stress and no further volumetric strain occurs. However, dry soils often attain peak shear stress before attaining the critical state. Hence, the strength of the soil is based on its critical state strength and the peak strength. Critical state of soil continues to distort without further changes in void ratio or normal stress or shear stress, but the strains achieve turbulent flow. At the shearing point, soils achieve critical states, which are independent on the initial states. Hence, critical shear stress does not differ initially for both dry and wet soils since the void ratio and the effective pressure is the same (Atkinson 2007). The critical state parameters are l, M, and G. Soil sample changing states are easily indicated by the specific volume, deviatoric stress and effective mean stress. The key laboratory tests that can be used in the estimation of critical state parameters are the triaxial (axial symmetry) test and simple or direct shear test. These test samples should have a consolidation, which is related to the effective pressure at the onset of the tests (Joseph 2009). Further, the tests should have continuity to such a large extent of the strains for the samples to achieve critical states. Some samples, especially the ones that are over-consolidated tend to fail prior to the attainment of the critical state. Peak strengths indicate points that are on top of the critical state lines of the (p’, q) plot. Further, drained isotropic unloading and loading aids in the determination of l and k in the apparatus of triaxial. Stress path tests also aid in parameters determination. Hence, different tests (triaxial extension, triaxial compression) offer different M values while l varies with respect to the unloading degree or stress level. Such necessitates the reconsolidation of samples of soil to the effective stresses in the field for the application of the

Dunlaps aim for ailing companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dunlaps aim for ailing companies - Essay Example During 1997, Sunbeam's management also showed hoax guaranteed sales, improper bill and hold book sales and also resorted to other fraudulent practices. Out of the net income of US$ 189 million, it is estimated that at least US$ 62 million was from fraudulent accounting practices followed by the company. Dunlap was a management expert who specialized in quick fix solutions for ailing companies. Critics say that he specialized in streamlining the bottom-line of the ailing firms by firing employees and resorting to other cost cutting measures. This would make the company more profitable in the short term, but add to difficulties since such measures would equally strip the company of both talent and capability to compete in the international environment. They point to the fact that most of Dunlap's previous firms have been put up for sale after the dramatic recovery they staged and have never been capable of outdoing its competition on its own. Dunlap's aim has always been to improve the performance of the company on the books and then sell it off at higher prices as the stock value escalates in the expectation of higher returns. At Sunbeam, he attempted the same strategy and did nothing creative about it. In order to cut short the time frame to correct the company's book, he resorted to sales and accounting frauds and the debt financing of three acquisitions to increase the turnover and asset base of the firm. The celebrity CEO was also followed closely by the media who was highly skeptical of his style of aggressive and inhuman decisions. The over ambitious CEO was overpowered by the media who alerted the shareholders and the authorities about his way of functioning and the glorification of the company destined to doom. The senior management of the company also did little to control the massive information leakage once the media opened the lid of the mismanagement can. The CEO had cut over half of Sunbeam's jobs soon after he took over. The share price shot up to over US$ 53 in 1997 from a mere US$ 12. Many share holders had already sold their stake in the company. But growing public concern led to the CEO himself being victimized at the end. The board of directors fired Duncan to save their embarrassment and filed for closure. 3. Identify ethical issues that Dunlap's management team may have created by adopting a short - run focus on financial performance. What lessons could be learned from the outcome Dunlap's management team had overlooked the primary aim of all businesses - to create social wealth. He had specialized in the short run concept after he discovered the pleasure of making money by selling off his previous firms to high bidders who bought the revived companies to add to their wealth. But in the process of streamlining a sinking firm, he had thrown overboard a large chunk of its employees and the beneficiaries of its functioning. His focus was always the small community